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Stormers forced to change ... again

Wed, 22 May 2013 10:30

I'm excited about the new players in our team

Stormers coach Allister Coetzee has named a much-changed line-up for Saturday's Super Rugby encounter against the Reds at Newlands.

The Stormers suffered a spate of injuries on their recently-completed four-match tour of Australasia, with five players from last week's line-up - against the Rebels - missing because of injury this weekend.

A sixth player, hooker Siyabonga Ntubeni, withdrew from last week's match at the 11th hour with a hamstring injury and is still not available for selection.

Fourie, Ntubeni and De Jongh should all be back on deck after the June Test break - along with lock De Kock Steenkamp, who left the tour early with a chest injury.

However, Bekker, Malherbe and Cilliers will be out for some time.

As a result of these injuries, Damian de Allende (inside centre), Don Armand (No.7 flank), Gerbrandt Grobler (No.4 lock), Brok Harris (tighthead prop) and Tiaan Liebenberg (hooker) all come into the starting XV this week.

In other changes, skipper Jean de Villiers will move from inside centre to outside centre, Siya Kolisi shifts across from No.7 to No.6 and Eben Etzebeth will call the line-outs in the absence of Bekker in the No.5 shirt.

De Allende will make his first start since the Stormers' 22-15 win over the Sharks on April 13, Armand and Harris will make their first starts of 2013, Grobler will make his first-ever Super Rugby start and Liebenberg (having recovered from an elbow injury) is back in the mix for the first time since March 23 (against the Brumbies).